What’s new: Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming has urged the authorities in Seoul to find out as soon as possible the cause of Monday’s fire at a local lithium battery factory, which has killed at least 22 people, most of them Chinese nationals.
The blaze broke out around 10:30 a.m. at battery-maker Aricell’s three-story plant in Hwaseong, 45 kilometers (28 miles) south of Seoul, Yonhap News Agency reported.
At least 17 Chinese nationals were among the dead based on preliminary assessments of personal belongings, with the exact number to be confirmed, according to a statement published early Tuesday by China’s embassy in Seoul, citing local authorities. Eight others were injured, including one Chinese national, the statement said.
One Laotian was also among the deceased foreign workers and one person was still missing, Yonhap reported Tuesday, citing local authorities.
The background: Aricell mainly produces lithium thionyl chloride batteries, which are primary, or non-rechargeable, batteries that are usually used in sensors, smart meters, ETC devices and others.
A battery industry veteran told Caixin that a fire of Monday’s scale was unseen in years because such batteries typically carry relatively low safety risks during production.
Lu Yutong contributed to this story.
Contact reporter Wang Xintong (xintongwang@caixin.com) and editor Jonathan Breen (jonathanbreen@caixin.com)
